Tooth decay can develop early in life, even if your child only has only one tooth. That’s why it’s so important to schedule regular exams starting when your child is young. At Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry in Oklahoma City and Midwest City, Oklahoma, a caring team of pediatric dental specialists can identify the early signs of tooth decay and gum disease to protect your child now and in the future. Special needs adults are welcome, too. Call the office nearest you to schedule an exam now.
Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry recommends exams every six months for healthy children. But, if your child suffers from chronic oral health problems, their pediatric dentist might need to seem them more frequently.
During exams, your child's Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry provider examines their gums to check for infection and disease. They check for teeth problems like cavities, cracks, chips, and unusual wear as well.
The Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry team highly recommends X-rays as a part of pediatric dental exams. X-rays reveal problems like cysts, tumors, and bone depletion. Also, X-rays are important because they show your child's pediatric dentist the exact position of unerupted teeth.
An oral cancer screening is always part of pediatric dental exams, too. During an oral cancer screening, your child's pediatric dentist examines every part of their mouth for cancer symptoms.
If your child has fillings, crowns, space maintainers, or other dental appliances, their pediatric dentist evaluates them during the exam.
Usually, teeth cleanings follow dental exams. During a teeth cleaning, your child's Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry provider removes the plaque and tartar that can lead to cavities. Then, they polish your child's teeth to extract enamel stains.
If your child has a cavity, their pediatric dentist can remove the decay and restore the tooth. Fillings are the standard restoration for tooth decay, but sometimes children also need crowns to retain the filling. With cavity treatment at Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry, your child can get full healthy use of their tooth again.
You can start by scheduling your child’s exam either early in the day, or after they wake up from a nap. This ensures they’re well-rested and more likely to be cooperative. Maintain a positive attitude when talking about dental exams because your child follows your lead on this. If they see that you’re unworried and relaxed, your child’s much more likely to be the same way.
For gentle dental exams from pediatric dentistry experts, call Smiling Faces Pediatric Dentistry now.
